A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Possible Side Effects Of Hair Dye You Must Know About
As the popularity of hair dyes continues to soar, many are worried about
the possible side effects of its high chemical content. There are mixed
opinions about the relationship between hair color and cancer.
Allergies to hair color are common and it can also damage hair in the
long run. While research shows it is also relatively safe to use hair
color while pregnant or breastfeeding, err on the side of caution. There
are several natural alternatives to chemical hair color such as henna
that could be better for hair health.
What used to be a way to surreptitiously conceal rogue gray hairs in the
privacy of your own home a few decades ago is poised to become a $29
billion market by 2019!1 We’re talking about hair color or hair dye, and it looks like men and women alike can’t get enough of it.
Hair dye is no longer just for concealing gray hairs either. People are
choosing to color their hair to express their personality, experiment
with their looks, and simply to achieve a vibrant and healthy looking
head of hair!
Fun fact: the hair coloring trend isn’t as recent as you’d think. In
fact, roots of the hair color trend (see what we did there?) can be
traced back to as early at 1500 BC when ancient civilizations used
natural pigments and even leeches to color hair!
But how safe is it to color your hair? Are there health implications you need to be aware of? Let’s find out.
Hair Dye Versus Hair Color: Is It The Same Thing?
Yup! The words hair color and hair dye are used interchangeably and they
mean the same thing. However, more often that not, you’ll find
colorists and stylists use “color” rather than “dye.” After all, it
sounds less harsh and obtrusive!
Types Of Hair Dyes
Hair dyes are broadly classified into permanent, semi-permanent, and
temporary dye depending on the amount of peroxide contained in the
formula.
Permanent hair dye contains the highest concentration
of peroxide and it opens up your hair shaft to deliver color deep into
your hair. Although “permanent” hair dye will fade and grow out over
time, it is still the most long-lasting formula of all three, lasting
about 8–10 weeks.
Semi-permanent hair dye adds color to your hair without opening
up the hair shaft. This formula is designed to deposit color into the
cuticles of the hair shaft and also add shine. These are gentler
alternatives to permanent color because they contain low amounts of
peroxide, but they only last about 6 weeks.
Temporary hair dye is truly temporary and works for
those who are looking to briefly experiment with a different hair color
or want a very subtle color change. This formulation only lasts until
the next time you wash your hair and the colors only sit on the surface
of your hair, outside the cuticle.2
Side Effects Of Hair Dye
No matter which formula of hair dye you favor, you should know what’s in
it. Hair dyes contain more than 500 different chemicals, and so it is
natural to be concerned about its potential side effects. Scientists
have been investigating whether exposure to these chemicals poses health
hazards, not just to those who use hair color but to professional
colorists as well. Here’s what we know so far.
1. Hair Color And Cancer
In its earliest formulations, some specific components found in hair
color were found to have carcinogenic properties when tested on animals.
In the 80s, hair color manufacturing companies got rid of some of these
chemicals to make hair color safer.3 However,
today, scientists don’t have a definitive verdict on whether current
formulations of hair color still contain cancer-causing chemicals.
A Swedish study of about 45,000 hairdressers showed that hairdressers
were not at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.4 But
a 2009 survey of several research studies found that hairdressers who
had been coloring clients’ hair for 10 or more years were at a higher
risk of developing bladder cancer.5
Additional research studies have established a relationship (not
necessarily causal) between using hair color and the likelihood of
developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.6
Researchers have also found some evidence to suggest that long-term use
of permanent hair color can possibly make one more likely to develop
adult acute leukemia.7 But
other studies have not supported these claims. Research also does not
indicate a relationship between hair color and breast cancer.8
Because of these mixed results, the scientific community remains largely ambiguous on whether hair color can be categorically said
to be linked with various types of cancer. At most, there is a “very
minimal” link between modern hair color and the risk of developing
cancer.9
The Food and Drug Administration notes that hair color manufacturers are
no longer using the two key chemicals that were found to have
carcinogenic properties back in the 70s and 80s and that it does not
have enough “reliable evidence” to establish a definitive link between
hair color and cancer.10
2. Hair Dye And Allergies
Allergic reactions to hair dye are fairly common because it contains
paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a common allergen. People prone to contact
dermatitis may be especially likely to develop an allergic reaction to
hair color.11
As a safety precaution, always perform a patch test before coloring your
hair. Instructions that come with the box of hair dye will usually
recommend that you apply a small amount of the hair color solution on
the inside of your elbow. You need to allow it to dry and see if you
develop any allergic reaction, including rashes, itchiness, swollen
eyes, wheezing, and nausea.12
3. Hair Dye And Fertility
Lead acetate is often a component in progressive hair dyes, used to
color hair over multiple applications. Some research studies have shown
that lead acetate can possibly affect fertility in both men and women.13 A
recent study also revealed that due to being constantly exposed to
chemicals found in hair products (including hair dyes), hairdressers are
more likely to have a reproductive disorder.14 The
FDA, however, maintains that the level of lead acetate is not
sufficient enough to cause lead to be absorbed by the body. They do,
however, ask for a cautionary note to appear in all products with it.15
4. Hair Dye And Hair Health
Regular use of hair dyes, especially permanent color, can render your
hair brittle and over-processed. Ammonia contained in hair dyes gets
inside your hair shaft and into the cuticles, and the peroxide is meant
to neutralize the pigment that gives your hair its natural color. With
frequent coloring, the hair cuticle and the hair shaft gets damaged and
hair tends to lose its luster. Many hair color manufacturers have
stopped using ammonia in their products but, even so, all the other
chemicals in hair color aren’t exactly super-kind to your hair. 16
Color-treated hair also needs a little extra TLC which most people
ignore. This usually leads to rough, dry, color-damaged hair, especially
if you return to your salon every few months to color your hair.
Safety Precautions To Take When You Dye Your Hair
Research may still be on the fence about the health impact of hair dyes.
But you can play it safe by not overusing hair dyes. For instance,
reduce the frequency of dyeing your grays if you are unwilling to cut it
out altogether. And ask yourself if you really need to randomly change
color every other week!
When you do use hair dyes, make sure to follow some safety precautions.
- Always follow the instructions outlined on the hair color product packaging.
- Perform a patch test as directed, especially if you’re coloring your hair for the very first time or trying a new brand. In fact, with the constant modifications in ingredients, a patch test is a good idea every time!
- Keep the color solution away from your eyes, and always wear protective gloves.
- The FDA recommends that you don’t leave the color solution on your hair longer than directed on the packaging.
- Don’t color your hair if your scalp is itchy or sunburned.
- Also, never use hair color on your eyelashes or eyebrows. This can be very harmful to your eyes and you even risk going blind – no joke!17 18
Coloring Your Hair During Pregnancy
Many women are hesitant to color their hair during pregnancy or
immediately after childbirth due to the presence of so many chemicals in
hair color. The American Pregnancy Association, however, maintains that
chemicals found in permanent and semi-permanent hair color are not
really toxic and that there’s no harm in using hair color while
pregnant. In addition, only very little dye is absorbed by your skin and
even less is actually likely to reach the unborn baby. The same also
holds true for breastfeeding. There is little to no chance of hair color
chemicals entering your bloodstream and contaminating your milk supply.19
That said, due to the possible risks associated with exposure to
chemicals in hair dye, many OB/GYNs recommend that you wait until the
end of your first trimester to color your hair.20To be safe, always check with your OB/GYN and avoid if you can.
Natural Alternatives To Chemical Hair Color
If all this talk about chemicals has you worried about what you’re
subjecting your mane to, don’t worry. There are plenty of natural ways
to tint your hair that don’t involve harmful chemicals.
Henna has been used for centuries by women in Asia to
add a reddish, burgundy hue to hair. Henna hair dye also conditions your
hair and leaves it luxuriously soft. With regular use, your hair
becomes naturally henna-colored, which can work well if you have dark
brown hair.
- Lemon juice can help lighten hair, if that’s your goal.
- Chamomile tea can help add natural highlights.
- Black tea and coffee, brewed and then cooled, can help make hair darker.